Excellency Mr. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia
Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki-moon United Nations Secretary General,
Commissioner of Social Affairs, Dr. Mustapha Kaloko
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
Excellencies Ministers and Distinguished guests.
Ladies and Gentlemen

A warm welcome to all participants to this working lunch, and to acknowledge your continued commitment to maintain the eradication of malaria high on Africa’s health and development agenda.

Let me commend H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, as current Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance who continues to provide stewardship to the fight against malaria and the broader struggle for health for all on the continent.

This meeting takes place when Africa has started to implement its long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063. Global leaders have just adopted a set of ambitious targets to achieve sustainable development by 2030.

During this event, African Leaders will review progress and address challenges faced in achieving our malaria targets on the continent.

We are clearly making progress. About 92% - that is 4.3 million - of malaria deaths were averted in Africa by 2013. In the same period malaria associated mortality rate among our children under 5 years of age was more than halved by 58% as the incidences declined.

There were also increases in funding and implementation for malaria control programmes over the past decade. New data suggests that for every US $1 invested in malaria in Africa, an estimated 40USD in Gross Domestic Product is generated in return. It is therefore not just a health issue, but also an economic issue.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
We must not be complacent in our journey to eliminate Malaria by 2030 on the continent. Africa continues to account for 82% of malaria cases and 90% of malaria deaths worldwide. This implies that the Abuja 2000 Malaria targets and the Millennium Development Goals malaria related targets remain an unfinished business. The new continental and global targets that we have set will not be achieved if we continue our business as usual.

There is therefore need to ensure that investments in health are strategic and prioritized to achieve maximum impact. The Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and Malaria by 2030 will be considered by your Ministers of Health in April of this year and will provide the future direction in responding to these three diseases.
Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen
Finally, let me take this opportunity to commend African governments for their sustained efforts to address health and development partners for their continued support in ensuring that Africa is on a path towards sustainable development.

Lets work together, lets push harder, we have what it takes to defeat and end Malaria once and for all.

I thank you.